✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 15 Oct 2026, 12:51.
Opportunity overview
Innovation Chain North (ICN) is a framework for construction and associated professional services.
It is designed to support the delivery of new homes and associated social infrastructure across the North of England.
The ICN framework is currently valued at £1.5bn over a four year period, geographically covering the North of England and beyond, creating a compliant procurement route for new build and refurbishment projects across the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England.
Membership of ICN is open to Clients seeking to deliver mixed use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes, including local authority and housing associations.
ICN aims to place a greater emphasis on social value, so that every call off from the framework positively impacts local communities.
Classification
CPV45210000 — Building construction work
CPV71000000 — Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
CPV73000000 — Research and development services and related consultancy services
CPV79000000 — Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Lots
Lot 1Value not stated
Documents and notices
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a TenderOpen source ↗
Published notice details
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
73000000
Description
Research and development services and related consultancy services
Entry 4
Scheme
CPV
Id
79000000
Description
Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKE
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Planning and budget
Milestones
Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
Great Places intends to undertake a programme of preliminary market engagement (PME) activities with suppliers, consultants and sector stakeholders to inform the development of the future framework and associated procurement strategy.
The objectives are of PME activity are to:
1: Validate market capacity and interest in the future ICN
2: Inform future requirements, commercial arrangements and framework design
3: Promote consistency of approach for framework delivery
The engagement process has been designed to promote transparency, encourage early market participation and obtain market insight. It is not a call for competition.
The Market Engagement Plan:
MARKET ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS (from 15th October)
Consultants and Contractors are invited to complete the PME survey -
Contractor link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/iztJiVkW9q
Consultant link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/CAQ0Z8DcsT
The surveys will be live for a minimum of 6-weeks from publication of the PME Notice, and closed at our discretion.
OPEN SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT EVENT (date to be confirmed - Nov/Dec)
Great Places intends to host a webinar open to interested suppliers identified through the PME survey process. The webinar will provide an overview of the proposed framework and facilitate further discussion to support the market engagement objectives.
All firms can register their interest via the Contractor or Consultant form above.
YORKSHIRE SUPPLIER AND CLIENT ENGAGEMENT EVENT (date to be confirmed Nov)
Regionally focused in-person event will be held for contractors, consultants, potential Client and future Clients based within the Yorkshire region.
Feedback from the PME survey and Notice will be used to identify additional suppliers who may be invited to participate. The event will support discussion on region specific requirements and delivery considerations.
Due to room constraints, this will be strictly on an invitation only basis.
Yorkshire firms can register their interest via the Contractor or Consultant links above.
Potential Clients from the region should contact icn@greatplaces.org.uk to register.
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT EVENT (26th November)
Engagement will be undertaken remotely with other housing associations and framework users to gather lessons learned, understand operational challenges and obtain feedback on framework management and delivery approaches.
Current or future framework users can register by contacting icn@greatplaces.org.uk.
All timings are indicative. Great Places reserves the right to conduct additional preliminary market engagement notice not described in this notice to help meet the objectives of the PME.
This notice is issued in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 of the Procurement Act 2023 and is for preliminary market engagement only.
Due
2 Jan 2027, 23:59
Status
scheduled
Documents
Entry 1
Id
097377-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Buyer location · Manchester · UKD33 · M21 7QP · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKD · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKE · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKF · United Kingdom
Delivery location · UKG · United Kingdom
Notice and amendment history
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
047189-2026Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ·
2
097377-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Early-stage market engagement for the planned Innovation Chain North (ICN) framework, covering construction and associated professional services for new homes, mixed-use housing, social infrastructure, new-build and refurbishment projects. It is described as covering the North of England and beyond. This is not stated to be an open bidding opportunity.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for organisations involved in construction and associated professional services relevant to housing, social infrastructure, new-build or refurbishment projects. Specific supplier selection, appointment and submission requirements are unknown at this stage.
Key points identified
ScopeConstruction and associated professional services for new homes and associated social infrastructure.Evidence: "Innovation Chain North (ICN) is a framework for construction and associated professional services" and "support the delivery of new homes and associated social infrastructure".
Project typesMixed-use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes, including new-build and refurbishment projects.Evidence: "mixed use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes" and "new build and refurbishment projects".
Social valueThe framework aims to place greater emphasis on social value for each call-off.Evidence: "ICN aims to place a greater emphasis on social value, so that every call off from the framework positively impacts local communities."
91% approved-analysis confidence6 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Early-stage market engagement for the planned Innovation Chain North (ICN) framework, covering construction and associated professional services for new homes, mixed-use housing, social infrastructure, new-build and refurbishment projects. It is described as covering the North of England and beyond. This is not stated to be an open bidding opportunity.
Who this may suit
Potential fit for organisations involved in construction and associated professional services relevant to housing, social infrastructure, new-build or refurbishment projects. Specific supplier selection, appointment and submission requirements are unknown at this stage.
Key deliverables
Planned framework supporting delivery of new homes and associated social infrastructure
New-build and refurbishment projects
Construction and associated professional services
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
6 criteria identified
Scope
98% confidence
Construction and associated professional services for new homes and associated social infrastructure.
View supporting evidence
"Innovation Chain North (ICN) is a framework for construction and associated professional services" and "support the delivery of new homes and associated social infrastructure".
Project types
95% confidence
Mixed-use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes, including new-build and refurbishment projects.
View supporting evidence
"mixed use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes" and "new build and refurbishment projects".
Social value
94% confidence
The framework aims to place greater emphasis on social value for each call-off.
View supporting evidence
"ICN aims to place a greater emphasis on social value, so that every call off from the framework positively impacts local communities."
Supplier requirements
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No supplier eligibility, technical, financial, certification or submission requirements are supplied.
Framework membership
96% confidence
Open to clients seeking to deliver mixed-use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes, including local authorities and housing associations.
View supporting evidence
"Membership of ICN is open to Clients seeking to deliver mixed use housing and associated social infrastructure schemes, including local authority and housing associations."
Supplier eligibility
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The supplied notice does not state supplier eligibility requirements.
COMMERCIAL AND DELIVERY
Contract intelligence
Commercial
Stated framework value
90% confidence
£1.5bn over four years.
View supporting evidence
"The ICN framework is currently valued at £1.5bn over a four year period".
Structured maximum value
95% confidence
£1.25bn.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity field value_max: 1250000000 GBP.
Commercial terms
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No pricing, payment, call-off or contract terms are supplied.
Delivery
Geographic coverage
93% confidence
North of England and beyond; specifically stated as North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
View supporting evidence
"geographically covering the North of England and beyond" and "across the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England."
Structured delivery regions
92% confidence
UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF and UKG.
View supporting evidence
Supplied delivery-location fields list regions UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF and UKG.
Delivery timetable
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
No contract start, end or call-off timetable is supplied.
display_status: "upcoming"; source_status: "planned"; notice_type: "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender".
Procurement route
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
procurement_method and procurement_method_details are null.
Submission deadline
99% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
submission_deadline is null.
Lot information
99% confidence
One planned lot record is supplied, but it has no title or description.
View supporting evidence
Lot 1 has status "planned" with null title and description.
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
Value inconsistency
99% confidence
The narrative states a current value of £1.5bn over four years, while the structured maximum value is £1.25bn.
View supporting evidence
Description: "valued at £1.5bn over a four year period"; value_max: 1250000000 GBP.
Geographic inconsistency or extension
94% confidence
The narrative names North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber, whereas structured delivery locations additionally include UKF and UKG.
View supporting evidence
Description names the three northern regions; delivery locations list UKC, UKD, UKE, UKF and UKG.
Date inconsistency
99% confidence
The opportunity published_at is 21 May 2026, but the supplied market-engagement document is dated 15 October 2026; the supplied data does not explain the sequence.
As a planned preliminary market engagement notice, final scope, route, supplier requirements, lots, commercial terms and timetable are not stated.
View supporting evidence
Status is upcoming/planned and the relevant fields are null or absent.
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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